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Subject Topic: FIxed or detachable towbar for Honda CRV? Post Reply Post New Topic
22/11/2014 at 5:25pm
 Location: Inverness
 Outfit: Coachman VIP 460 + H
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Just got our Honda 2.2 diesel CRV yesterday.
Can anyone please advise on what towbar to purchase. Wondered if there was a problem with the fixed type recognising the reversing sensors when not towing.......or is it better to get the detachable?

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Lochnessmonster


22/11/2014 at 6:57pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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Your choice. Fitters will usually say detachable because they dont want you coming back to say the sensors are picking it up.

Usually the ball is OK its the bumper guard and electrics that come into view of the sensors.



22/11/2014 at 7:21pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: ElddisAvante462 Honda CRV SE2.2 i-Dtec
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We paid the premium and had the Honda fixed tow bar fitted, complete with the specific wiring loom and softwear upgrade to avoid any problems with the rear camra sensors, and also to save the faff of sorting out a detachable towbar every time we wanted to tow as my husband is no longer a spring chicken and finds it difficult to bend or kneel on the floor for any length of time.

There are a few horror stories floating around the caravanning forums regarding those that have gone for the cheaper option and let a local workshop fit a bog standard towbar and wiring loom, only to find its been false economy due to the problems with the rear sensors setting the collision alarm off whist towing or indeed sensing the towball cap or even the towball itself when fitted. Even when a detachable towbar is fitted you still run the risk of the alarms going off once the caravan is hitched up unless you have the correct wiring loom and Honda softwear upgrade installed. It is quite a big job to fit a towbar to a CRV, l was amazed at how much of the rear end had to be dismantled to do the job, quite a bit of the inner rear trim had to be removed, as did the entire rear bumper, it was a full days job, but has been well worth it and the extra cost involved, as it now works very well indeed.

One little heads up though, Honda are due out with a softwear upgrade ( which may have already been fitted to your car if its fresh of the production line) this is to stop the tyre pressure warning light comming on when the tyres get hot on a long journey, and only effects our CRV whilst towing on a motorway in hot weather. Its something that Honda are aware of, and it also effects some of the latest models of the Civic where the same technology is fitted. I have been waiting for an upgrade for a couple of months now, although its never happened again since our dealer reset the fault light for us a couple of months ago, but something to be aware of just in case, as it did cause us a bit of a faff the first time that it happened.

Julia

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Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife

Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!


23/11/2014 at 6:41pm
 Location:  Dumfries
 Outfit: 2022 CoachmanVIP 2022 Pilote P696GJ
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swan neck with the dedicated Honda wiring loom and then your sensors will work ok


23/11/2014 at 7:47pm
 Location: Newtownards
 Outfit: Jaguar FPace
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I bought a new CRV 2.2 last year and had the dealer fit a towcar. The sales manager did ask me if I preferred a fixed or detachable, I opted for fixed because that is what I had on my previous CRV. The reverse sensors were ok for a couple of months but then went bananas, to cut a long story short it was taken back twice, sensors showed up faulty on test and were replaced under warranty. Worked for all of 10 minutes on collection. Dealer apologised made another appointment came to our home with another CRV for our use and took ours back to Belfast. Honda replaced the tow bar with a detachable one and brought our CRV back to our home. The Service Manager told us that Honda did not recommend a fixed towball because of interference with the sensors. By the way my previous CRV did not have a reversing camera and distance warning system which may account for the sensitivity issues.
Since fitting detachable no problems.


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A. B.


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23/11/2014 at 8:02pm
 Location:  Dumfries
 Outfit: 2022 CoachmanVIP 2022 Pilote P696GJ
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Quote: Originally posted by Ards Boy on 23/11/2014
I bought a new CRV 2.2 last year and had the dealer fit a towcar. The sales manager did ask me if I preferred a fixed or detachable, I opted for fixed because that is what I had on my previous CRV. The reverse sensors were ok for a couple of months but then went bananas, to cut a long story short it was taken back twice, sensors showed up faulty on test and were replaced under warranty. Worked for all of 10 minutes on collection. Dealer apologised made another appointment came to our home with another CRV for our use and took ours back to Belfast. Honda replaced the tow bar with a detachable one and brought our CRV back to our home. The Service Manager told us that Honda did not recommend a fixed towball because of interference with the sensors. By the way my previous CRV did not have a reversing camera and distance warning system which may account for the sensitivity issues.
Since fitting detachable no problems.




We had a swan neck on my previous 2009 CRV Ex cdti and our present 2014 Dtec Sr , both had reversing sensors and the Sr has a camera and had no issues at all .


23/11/2014 at 8:41pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit:  Mitsubishi ASX4
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Have you noticed how few cars seem to have towbars these days?
Obviously the majority prefer removeable.


23/11/2014 at 10:03pm
 Location: Aberdeen
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti
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Had fixed towbar on my CRV. No problems at all. The reversing camera was great when hooking up.

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Robert (BoB)


24/11/2014 at 11:37am
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: ElddisAvante462 Honda CRV SE2.2 i-Dtec
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The only thing with a fixed towbar on the CRV is that you have to make sure that the towball protection cap is put on straight, if you try to fit one of the more bulky generic type, or if it gets accidently nudged sideways, you may get problems with it being detected as an obsticle by the camra sensors. Having said that, ours has only once done this since we bought it last March, and Yes, we did change thd original slotted type cap for a more sturdy one.

Julia

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Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife

Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!


24/11/2014 at 4:58pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman 520 2019 Volvo V60 D4
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I had the Honda towbar - it's a Brink - and electrics fitted to my CR-V. There were problems originally as the wiring to Pin 9 went via a smart relay that was rated at only 15 amps, and the 15 amp fuse blew as soon as I connected up the 'van. The ATC requires a 20 amp fuse. Honda eventually agreed to the Dealer by-passing the smart relay, and wiring Pin 9 directly from the battery via a 20 amp fuse. I understand Honda have now modified the wiring to take ATC into account.

My car will be two years old in January, and I have had no problems with any of the electrics on the car when the 'van is attached.


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24/11/2014 at 9:55pm
 Location: chesterfield
 Outfit: Mazda CX 5 Auto Amara 520 4
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Quote: Originally posted by Lochnessmonster on 22/11/2014
Just got our Honda 2.2 diesel CRV yesterday.
Can anyone please advise on what towbar to purchase. Wondered if there was a problem with the fixed type recognising the reversing sensors when not towing.......or is it better to get the detachable?

I have a 2010 CR V 2.2 auto and tow a Coachman with MLTPM of 1475kgs, it tows it no problem (22-26 mpg depending on journey, best was 27 mpg on a run into Norfolk, usually 22-24 mpg) would expect better mpg from a manual, auto tends to hunt around 4th and 5th. Auto has max towing weight of 1500kgs, manual 2000 kgs, nose weight 100kgs.

Had a detachable towbar fitted by Honda main dealer at a cost of £675 with twin electrics,(in 2012) my van does not have ATC so no problems in that dept re fuse blowing. Labour cost is based on 4 hours labour, had it fitted by main dealer as the car wa still under Honda warranty, this would avoid any issues with electronics if fitted by an independent and arguing who would rectify. Had no problems at all. The towbar is manufactured by Bosal, only recomendation I would make is to take it off when not using or take off and grease the pin after use and refit as the  release knob can get quite stiff. Honda specify the skinny spare should not be used when towing ( I bought  a full size matching spare and tyref off E Bay for £200). Also if you have to fit the skinny spare when running solo I was advised turn of the VSA ( car is fitted with 18" wheels ). Hope this helps

Initially replied on your original post by mistake



26/11/2014 at 6:57pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman 520 2019 Volvo V60 D4
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Sorry, the Honda tow bar is a Bosal, and not a Brink as I posted. No idea why I made that mistake.


27/11/2014 at 2:33pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
 Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H
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Quote: Originally posted by bobmel on 23/11/2014
Had fixed towbar on my CRV. No problems at all. The reversing camera was great when hooking up.

Me too, I had a detachable one on last Honda but the attachment 'socket' for want of a better word often got clogged up with mud & grit and was a pain to clean up especially after the winter.

Dave



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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.



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